The Best Cheesy Ham and Vegetable Casserole

Are you searching for the ultimate comfort food casserole? A warm, bubbly, and incredibly cheesy one-dish meal that is loaded with wholesome vegetables and savory ham? This amazing, from-scratch Ham & Veggie Casserole is pure, unadulterated comfort food, and it’s the perfect, most delicious way to use up leftover holiday ham.

This isn’t just another casserole recipe; it’s a guide to your new family-favorite dinner. We’ll show you the simple secrets to a perfectly rich, velvety, and never-grainy homemade cheese sauce, and the trick to a perfectly crispy, golden-brown breadcrumb topping. It’s a hearty, satisfying, and deeply comforting one-dish wonder that is as perfect for a busy weeknight as it is for a cozy Sunday supper.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Recipe Overview: The Ultimate Comfort Food Casserole

What makes this Ham and Vegetable Casserole so spectacularly delicious is its incredible, from-scratch creamy cheese sauce and its perfect harmony of classic, comforting flavors. This is comfort food at its finest. A hearty medley of tender broccoli and cauliflower and salty, savory cubed ham is enveloped in a luscious, homemade cheddar and Parmesan cheese sauce. The entire dish is crowned with a layer of buttery, toasted breadcrumbs that bake up to be wonderfully crispy and golden brown. It’s a make-ahead and freezer-friendly meal that is guaranteed to be a hit with the whole family.

Metric	Time / Level
Total Time	45 minutes
Active Prep Time	20 minutes
Difficulty Level	Easy
Servings	6

The Essential Ingredients for This Cozy Casserole

This recipe uses a handful of simple pantry staples and smart shortcuts to create a spectacular, from-scratch result.

• The Hearty Base:
  • Fully Cooked Ham: This recipe is the absolute best way to use up leftover holiday ham from Christmas or Easter! If you don’t have leftovers, you can buy a thick-cut ham steak from the grocery store and simply dice it up.
  • Frozen Vegetables: Using a bag of frozen broccoli florets and a bag of frozen cauliflower is a fantastic and convenient shortcut that saves a ton of chopping and prep time.
• The Rich & Creamy Cheese Sauce: This is the secret to a truly superior, homemade casserole.
  • The Roux: A classic mixture of butter and all-purpose flour is the foolproof thickener that transforms a thin liquid into a rich and creamy sauce.
  • The Cheeses: The key to a truly flavorful sauce is to use a good quality cheese. A sharp, tangy cheddar cheese provides a wonderful flavor, while a salty, nutty Parmesan cheese adds a sophisticated, savory depth.
  • Pro Tip: For the absolute smoothest, creamiest, and best-melting sauce, it is always best to shred your own cheese from a block. Pre-shredded cheeses are often coated in starches that can make your sauce slightly grainy.
• The Crispy Toasted Topping: A simple combination of seasoned breadcrumbs and butter creates the perfect, golden-brown, crunchy crust.

Step-by-Step to the Best Ham and Veggie Casserole

This delicious, one-dish meal is incredibly simple to prepare.

Step 1: Cook the Vegetables and Toast the Breadcrumbs

Step 1: First, preheat your oven to 425°F (218°C). Generously grease an 8-inch square baking dish.

Step 2: Cook your 1 package of frozen broccoli florets and your 1 package of frozen cauliflower according to the package directions. Drain the cooked vegetables very well and set them aside.

Step 3: While the vegetables are cooking, prepare your topping. In a small skillet, melt the 2 teaspoons of butter. Add the 1/4 cup of seasoned breadcrumbs and cook, stirring, over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes, until the breadcrumbs are a beautiful, light golden brown and fragrant. Remove them from the heat and set them aside.

Pro Tip: Toasting the breadcrumbs in butter before they go on the casserole is the secret to a perfectly golden, crispy, and flavorful topping that never gets soggy!

Part 2: Create the Rich & Creamy Cheese Sauce

Step 1: In a large saucepan, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat.

Step 2 (Make the Roux): Stir in the 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour until it is smooth and has formed a paste.

Step 3: Slowly and gradually, while whisking constantly, pour in the 1 1/2 cups of 2% milk until the mixture is completely smooth.

Step 4: Bring the sauce to a boil, stirring it constantly. Let it cook and stir for 1 to 2 minutes, until the sauce has thickened into a beautiful, smooth gravy.

Step 5: Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the 3/4 cup of shredded sharp cheddar cheese and the 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese until they have completely melted into the sauce.

Part 3: Assemble and Bake Your Casserole

Step 1: Stir the 1 1/2 cups of cubed ham, the 1/4 teaspoon of pepper, and your cooked and drained broccoli and cauliflower into the cheese sauce.

Step 2: Transfer the entire mixture to your prepared 8-inch square baking dish.

Step 3: Sprinkle the prepared, toasted breadcrumbs evenly over the top of the casserole.

Step 4: Bake, uncovered, for 10 to 15 minutes, until the casserole is heated all the way through and is hot and bubbly around the edges.

Let the casserole cool for a few minutes before serving.

Storage and Make-Ahead Tips

This Ham & Veggie Casserole is the perfect make-ahead meal for a busy week or a potluck.

• Make-Ahead: You can fully assemble the entire, unbaked casserole in your baking dish (it’s best to wait to add the breadcrumb topping until just before baking). Let it cool completely, then cover it tightly with foil and store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. When you are ready to bake, you may need to add 10-15 minutes to the baking time.
• Storage: Store any leftovers, well-covered, in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
• Freezing: This casserole freezes beautifully! You can freeze it either before or after baking. Let it cool completely, then wrap the pan very well in a double layer of plastic wrap and then a layer of foil. It will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before baking or reheating.

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Creative Recipe Variations

1. Use a Different Protein: If you don’t have leftover ham, this casserole is also absolutely fantastic with an equal amount of cooked, shredded chicken or turkey, or even about 1 pound of browned ground beef or sausage.
2. Add Some Pasta: For an even heartier, “mac-and-cheese”-style casserole, you can stir in about 2 to 3 cups of a cooked, medium pasta shape (like elbow macaroni, rotini, or shells) along with the vegetables.
3. Use a Different Topping: If you’re not a fan of breadcrumbs, you can top this creamy casserole with about 1 cup of crushed Ritz® crackers that have been tossed with a little bit of melted butter, or with a generous layer of crispy, fried onions.

Enjoy The Ultimate Comfort Food Casserole!

You’ve just created a truly special dish that is a perfect harmony of wholesome, classic ingredients and delicious, satisfying flavors. This classic Ham & Veggie Casserole is a testament to the power of a simple, from-scratch meal to bring the whole family together. It’s a rewarding and deeply satisfying recipe that is sure to become a new, much-requested family favorite.

We hope you enjoy every last, warm, and delicious bite!

If you enjoyed making this recipe, please leave a comment below or share it with a friend who loves a good, easy, and comforting meal!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)